Tragedies. They bind months of tears and years of coping with a lifetime of being surrounded by love and remembrance. Though they’re difficult to handle, they’re common in every life.

For senior Jocelyn Santos, experiencing the toughest loss hit home when she was only 13.
   

Her family had decided to have a routine barbecue in Louis Park. The outing was just being wrapped up when a group of gang members, who appeared to be holding firearms, forced them out of the park.

Before the family could return home, gunshots were fired. Thirteen year old Aaron Kelly was shot in his chest and pronounced dead at Dameron Hospital. 

 “He was my cousin. We were really close,” Santos said. “We would be graduating together.”

 The only good thing about tragedies is that sometimes they end in miracles. In Santos’ case, it’s her baby girl.

She walks boldly.  She is not ashamed of her round belly.   

But a judgmental glare shines the spotlight on Santos. “When people look at me I’m just like ‘What are you looking at? There’s hecka pregnant girls here,’” she said. “I don’t really pay attention to them.”

Although the love for her daughter is always growing, the seed that started that love didn’t exist at one point. “When I first found out I was pregnant, I was scared,” she said.

Santos discovered she was pregnant when she was four months along. “I didn’t even have a choice.”

Through the back pains, the morning sickness, losing friends, and even having to miss about half of her senior year because of doctor’s appointments, Santos hates having to wait to hold her baby. “I just wish she’d hurry up and pop out,” she said. At seven months, she’s almost there.

 Even though Santos is excited to meet her daughter, the constant longing for her best friend is stronger than ever. “My mom and I were really close,” she said, “before I got pregnant.”

Darrick Spencer is Santos’ boyfriend and the father of her child. His shoulder is the one she leans on when she misses her mom.

When it comes to being responsible, he’s “amazing.” Ever since Santos became pregnant, not only does he work two jobs, but he also pays most of the bills that they share together.

According to Santos, he shows his love for his daughter by shedding a tear when she comes to mind.

All of the drama fades when the image of Leilanie Maree Spencer appears on screen. Santos shares these moments with Spencer. “Darrick’s always crying before we even see the sonogram,” she said.

Determined to beat the odds, Santos plans on continuing her education by taking classes at Delta College for one year and then transferring to Sacramento State. “I got accepted and everything already,” she said.